Rail joint



f views.

Patented Mayr 28, 1929.

UMTED? STATESkx I '1,714,616L A :rosiruaL Kiige nominaux?, or nLLicoTrviLLnNEW YORK. V-

RAIL JOINT. e

Application filedV November 4, 1927. Serial-No. 231,139.y

quickly lassembled without the'use ofbolts or similar fastenings. i

A further object of the invention is toso crganize and construct the parts ofthe joint that the rails will at all times be maintained in perfect alinemernt and be prevented fromv vertical and lateral displacement at their abutting ends. v

In the accompanying drawings Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of the abutting ends of two railroadrails showing my improved joint applied thereto. Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3--3, Figure 1. Figure It is a fragmentary longitudinal section on line H, Figure 2. Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the fish plates.

Similar characters of reference lindicate corresponding parts throughout the several The numerals 10, 10 indicate the abutting ends of adjoining railroad rails which are to be connected by the improved joint. Telescopically fitted over the base and web of the abutting rail-sections is a chair 11 including a base portion 12 and side walls 13, 13, the chair-base resting atits ends'on the ties lll and the side walls thereof extending inwardly over the rail-base and thence upwardly along the opposite sides of the railweb and terminating at their upper edges a suitable distance below the head of the rail, The side walls of this chair, as shown in Figure 2, are spaced from the contiguous sides of the rail-base and its web, and occupying thesev resulting L-shaped spaces are flanged fish plates 15, 15 having a series of locking studs 16 thereon which are adapted to engage openings 17` formed in the webs-of the abutting rail-sections to prevent longitudinal displacement of the fish plates relative to the rails. The upper edges of the chair side walls 13, 13 are preferably shaped into upwardly-facing longitudinal tongues 18 and the fish plates are provided at their upper ends with heads 19 having longitudinal grooves 2O in their undersides for receiving said tongues in the manner shown in Figure 2. In the assembled position of the jointparts,the sidewalls of the chair 1-.1 andthe fish plate heads .19 are substantially flush with ',the sides of the rail-head. If desired, theheads of the fish platesvmay be provided at, suitable intervals with tongues ,21 forinterlocking engagement withI corresponding recesses 22 in the underside of the rail-head. By this construction and arrangementef parts, thesh plates are'reliably interlocked with the rails against longitudinal displacement andthe chair is coupled with the lish plates inv a manner to prevent yany relative lateral or vertical shifting movements `of these parts as Well asfany depression 'or separation of the rails. lIn the assembling of the joint which is accomplished without the use of bolts or special tools, the l fish plates are first set in place across thel joint of the abutting rail-sections, after which the vchair is shifted lengthwise over such plates.

For the purpose of holding the chair 11 against longitudinal displacement relative to tl'ierail-sections 1() andthe fish plates 15 in one direction, the contiguous side walls of these parts are slightly tapered from one end thereof to the other, so that in applying the chair it is driven over the vfish plates in the direction of the ariow shown in Figure 3, to tightly wedge saidcliair in place. 'Io hold the latter `in place against movement in the opposite direction, the overlyplates are provided near their ends with registering openings'23 and 24, respectively,

which together form sockets or recesses for receiving anti-creeping members l25, preferably in the form of spring steel locking-bars, each shaped'to bear at one end against thevv S5 ing flanged portions of the chair and fish.

In dismembering the joint, the members 25 are first removed, after which the chair is shifted from engagement with the fish plates and the latter disconnected from the rails.

This improved joint, .while manifestly simple and durable in construction, can be readily assembled and dismembered, and it receiving the abutting ends of adjoining rails and including a base section. and opposing side Walls spaced from the railwebs, ishplates applied to opposite sides 'of the rails in the spaces between the rail-Webs and the opposing chair-walls,

means for holding the fish plates against movement lengthwise of the rails, the contiguous -walls of the chair and the ish plates beingktapered in one direction and havingl j registering openings therein, andV members removably seated in said openings and each bearing at one end-against one of the end walls of one opening and at its other end against the opposite wall of the companion registeringopening. f

2. Atrail joint, comprising a chair for receiving theyabutting ends or" adjoining rails and including a base section and opposing side walls spaced from "the rail bases and the' rail-webs, fish plates having baselanges applied to the opposite sides of the rails, in the spaces 'between the chair and the rails, means for holding the lish plates against movement lengthwise of the rails, the

contiguous walls of the chair and the fish plates being tapered in one direction and having registering openings in the overlying base portion of the. chair and in the base flanges ofy said plates, and spring locking bars adapted for insertion in each set oi registering openings for engagement at one end vwith one of such openings and at the other-'end with the companion opening of a set. Y

3. A rail joint, comprising fish plates applied to the adjoining ends of abutting rails, the upper ends of said plates having downwardly-facing longitudinal grooves, means for holding the fish plates against movement lengthwise of the rails, a chair applied to the'rails-over said fish plates and terminating at the upper edges 'of its side Walls in' JOSHUA KING NoRTHRUP. i 

